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I had sex with a prostitute 7 days ago ( vaginal intercourse ), I used a condom which didn't brake but fingered her and the skin around my nails was pealing. We also kissed.

I started to experience some worrying signs within 3-4 days after that : swollen lymph nodes in groin area, armpits and neck, pain in the testicles, sweating, headaches, muscles pain, a burning sensation in the tongue, and I got really scared.

Do you think I could have been infected with HIV from this?

I am booked to have a full STDs check next Monday, but these symptoms drive me crazy, I am really worried, please help.

Fingering, no matter what sort of spin you want to put on it, is NOT a risk for hiv infection. Neither is kissing and neither is protected intercourse. Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection. You haven't had a risk for hiv infection.

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I know exactly what you're worrying about and I'm telling you it is not a risk for hiv infection. Hiv is a fragile virus that can only infect very specific cells of the body and these cells are not found in cuts on your fingers. Not only that, but hiv does not remain able to infect when it finds itself outside the human body. This is why transmission happens during unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse - it happens INSIDE the body.

You did NOT have a risk. Make sure you read the Transmission Lesson and the condom information so you know how to protect yourself against hiv infection. So far you've done a good job, you used a condom. Do so every time you have intercourse and you'll be just fine where hiv is concerned.

See your doctor if you're not feeling well. It's nothing to do with hiv.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

We always recommend that sexually active people get regular, routine sexual health care check ups, so you're doing the right thing. Make sure you continue to have these checks at least once a year and more often if you're very active or have an incident of unprotected intercourse.

Most of the STIs can be checked for ten days to two weeks after the incident you're worried about - or sooner if you develop a discharge from your penis. However, syphilis shares a three month window with hiv for a conclusive result.

Don't forget you can pick up ordinary colds and flu from close contact with another person.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

My symptoms are getting worse, all my lymph nodes are swollen, I am having a flu,i have joints pain and muscles pain, headaches, I am extremely tired during the day, red spots appeared on my forehead arms and legs, I have fever all day, and I am sweating heavily !

This is really, really scary, I am trying to believe that symptoms mean nothing, but I didn't have any of these before my incident

I am waiting for my STDs results on Tuesday, but as far as HIV is concerned is probably too early ( only 2 weeks ).

anyone who has been in my situation and tested negative, it would be really comforting to hear your stories

Thank you for your responses. I am trying to keep as calm as possible and don't overreact, but it's difficult when I am experiencing all these symptoms.

I had a full STDs check 2 weeks after the incident, they all came back negative, but in the meantime, I am felling worse and worse, with swollen lymph nodes, a skin rash, fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches and pains.

As much as I am trying to tell myself symptoms mean nothing, it is difficult to ignore them. Looking back at the incident, I am now having doubts whether the condom was correctly used, or if her vaginal fluids could not have entered my body through my cuts on my fingers while I took off the condom and cleaned my penis.

I don't know how I am going to go through the next 2 month period until I will be able to test conclusively for HIV.

Discuss your symptoms with your doctor. They are not in any way HIV-specific, but that's not surprising since you weren't at risk in the incident you are concerned about.

I do expect you're going to test negative. In the meantime 1) talk to your doctor about the symptoms and 2) stay productively busy while waiting to test. It really will help the time to pass more quickly than you can imagine is possible.